青藏高原胡兀鹫与巢域中峭壁生境营巢鸟类的种间互动关系初探

胡兀鹫(Gypaetus barbatus)是峭壁生境营巢鸟类,其领域是关系到繁殖与生存的必需资源。2010~2013年,在青藏高原4个省区中的7个胡兀鹫繁殖地进行了调查,结合1990~1993年的调查资料,用直接观察法记录了12个胡兀鹫繁殖巢域(距巢址500 m范围内)中的峭壁生境营巢繁殖鸟类,并初步评估了这些鸟类与胡兀鹫的种间关系。结果表明,巢区中观察到其体型可引起胡兀鹫警觉反应的鸟类计有23种,营巢繁殖的有11种。繁殖鸟类中猛禽有高山兀鹫(Gyps himalayensis)、猎隼(Felco cherrug)、金雕(Aquila chrysaetos)、大鵟(Buteo hemilasius)、长耳鸮(Asio otus)5种,鸦科鸟类有红嘴山鸦(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)、黄嘴山鸦(P.graculus)和大嘴乌鸦(Corvus macrorhynchos)3种。前述23种可引起胡兀鹫警觉反应的鸟类在胡兀鹫巢域中被记录到的活动行为频次为1 298次·只,观察到12种鸟与胡兀鹫发生种间互动行为,频次合计65次,其中鸦科鸟类与胡兀鹫发生的种间互动行为频次最高(34次)。观察到胡兀鹫驱赶巢域内的捕猎金雕导致其放弃猎物的行为。对种间关系的初步评估结论为:(1)毗邻高山兀鹫繁殖巢的胡兀鹫,表现出同种繁殖对之间巢间距明显缩短的现象,其巢间距由35.84 km(25.10~47.30 km,n=6个巢)缩短至7.39 km(6.22~8.58 km,n=5个巢);(2)在胡兀鹫巢域中营巢繁殖的猎隼,其同种间巢间距缩短至150~360 m(n=4个巢);(3)由于高山兀鹫在当地传统文化习俗中的重要地位,胡兀鹫与其毗邻营巢,可以在很大程度上降低人类直接干扰活动对其繁殖成功率的不利影响;(4)在人为干扰活动或其他原因导致胡兀鹫亲鸟离巢的情况下,鸦科鸟类和捕食性猛禽(尤其是猎隼)的存在,在很大程度上增加了胡兀鹫卵和幼雏被天敌掠食的可能性;(5)胡兀鹫育雏早期需要获取肉含量高的食物(体型较小的死亡动物),在胡兀鹫巢域或附近区域营巢的捕食性猛禽所遗落的猎物,很可能具有一定程度的补充作用。     

Sperm motility of the marine teleosts Boops boops, Diplodus sargus, Mullus barbatus and Trachurus mediterraneus

The spermatozoa of Boops boops, Diplodus sargus, Mullus barbatus, and Trachurus mediterraneus were motile in sea water, and in electrolyte solutions (NaCl) and non-electrolyte solutions (glucose) with an osmolality of 600–1000 mosmol kg^?1. Their mean motility rate 10 s after initiation was about 80%, while about 10% of the motile spermatozoa moved non-linearly, 45% linearly, and 45% circularly. The average path swimming velocity was significantly higher in M. barbatus (about 90 μm s^?1) than in the other species (70 μm s^?1). The number of motile spermatozoa decreased to 0% within 50 s after initiation of motility in T. mediterraneus, within 90 s in M. barbatus . In B. boops and D. sargus about 90% of the spermatozoa stopped movement during the first 90 s of the motility period, while the rest remained motile for 2–3 h. Motility of B. boops and D. sargus spermatozoa was reversibly suppressed in the seminal plasma, and in electrolyte and non-electrolyte solutions of 100–200 mosmol kg^?1. The trigger for motility activation was hyperosmolality (700–1000 mosmol kg^?1). Motility of M. barbatus and T. mediterraneus sperm was only partly suppressed in the seminal plasma since freshly collected semen contained about 25–50% locally motile spermatozoa. When sperm was activated immediately after collection with electrolyte and non-electrolyte solutions of 700–1000 mosmol kg^?1 spermatozoa moved progressively. The motility of those spermatozoa which had not yet been motile after collection was completely and reversibly suppressed in M. barbatus at osmolalities of 1200 mosmol kg^?1, and at osmolalities of 100–200 mosmol kg^?1 in T. mediterraneus . Therefore two triggers were necessary for initiation of motility. The nature of the first trigger was uncertain, the second trigger was a switch to hypoosmolality in M. barbatus and to hyperosmolality in T. mediterraneus . The sperm organisation of B. boops, D. sargus, M. barbatus and T. mediterraneus revealed species-specific parameters which could not be related with the sperm motility behaviour.     

Spatial and temporal movement of the Bearded Vulture using GPS telemetry in the Himalayas of Nepal

This study addresses for the first time the movement patterns of the globally near-threatened Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus in its most important stronghold, the high-altitude mountain ranges of Asia. Tracked individuals (n = 8) in the Annapurna Himalayan range (Nepal) foraged over a vast range of 60 715.9 km² and our results indicated age-class differences in the use of space. Territorial adults showed very small annual home-ranges (K90 = 150.3 km²), whereas immatures wandered extensively and covered vast ranges of the mountains (K90 = 23 930.8 km²). For adults and immatures, these values are notably larger than the other two studied populations in the world (Pyrenees and South Africa). This suggests that the studied Annapurna population might exhibit lower breeding density than in the Pyrenees or South Africa, possibly due to lower food availability.     

Biases in Studying the Diet of the Bearded Vulture

Abstract: We compared methods of assessing the diet of the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) during the nestling period in the Pyrenees, northeast Spain. We determined diet from direct observations of food items delivered to the nest, recent prey remains present in the nest, remains collected in the nests after fledging, and remains collected in the ossuaries (bone-breaking sites). Data suggest that direct observation (food items delivered and recent prey remains present in the nest) is the only valid method of assessing the bearded vulture's diet accurately. Remains overestimated the presence of large mammals, such as cows (Bos taurus) and horses (Equus caballus), Suidae, and birds; delivered samples contained a higher proportion of small mammals, medium-sized mammals, micromammals, and reptiles. Ossuaries also differed from delivered samples because remains collected there overestimated large and medium-sized mammals. Concerning the skeletal parts, ossuaries, compared to all other methods, underestimated extremities and overestimated long bones, such as femur, humeri and tibiae, scapulae, vertebrae, and skulls. Remains samples, which overestimated scapulae, also differed from delivered and present samples. Our results suggest that bearded vultures favor extremities of prey (78% of the mammal remains, which make up 95% of the diet). The prevalence of small carcasses (almost 17%) suggests that vultures select small animals for food for the young. Because food quality may influence breeding success, future conservation projects based on the selective provision of food to breeding pairs should add to food stations meat remains and small carcasses consistent with our assessment of the birds’ dietary needs.     

4. UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES WITH BIRDS

Earlé, R. A. 1989. Breeding biology of the Redbreasted Swallow Hirundo semirufa. Ostrich 60: 13–21.

The two races of the Redbreasted Swallow Hirundo semirufa seem to have separate breeding seasons with the northern race H. s. gordoni breeding April-July, while most records for the nominate race fall in October-February. All nests studied were in concrete culverts less than 1 m high. Eggs laid in second clutches by individual females weighed significantly less than eggs laid in first clutches. Eggs hatched on average 16,2 days after incubation started or 18–21 days after the eggs were laid. Only females incubated. Chicks fledged 23–25 days after hatching and reached a maximum body mass of about 31,5 g on day 18 before a steady decline in mass until fledging. Most nesting failures resulted from infertile eggs or starvation of young in the nest (16,2% of all young starved). Overall breeding success was 60,6%. In all, 81,8% of first clutches produced fledglings but only 44,4% of second clutches. Over a three year period 4,9 young were produced per pair breeding in the area (1,6 young/pair/breeding season).